Backers of gay-baiting DeMaio ads revealed

Ethics Commission fines "conservative" group $7,500 for violations

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO  A group that distributed campaign literature and conducted robo-calls in an effort to highlight Carl DeMaio’s homosexuality during last year’s mayoral contest has been fined $7,500 by the San Diego Ethics Commission for violations of city election laws.

Among the violations was that the group — “Conservatives for Gay Rights Supporting Carl DeMaio for Mayor 2012” — failed to disclose those coordinating its efforts were Democrats and pro-medical marijuana advocates supporting DeMaio’s mayoral rival, Bob Filner. The political-action committee also didn’t provide a valid street address or maintain records of its activities as required by law.

It was speculated last year that the group was a front set up by DeMaio critics to thwart his mayoral bid because the only substantial information available about the PAC at the time was that its main financial backer was railroad executive Charles McHaffie, a Filner supporter. He gave $25,000 to the PAC as its sole contributor.

The Ethics Commission investigation revealed that Democratic consultant Jesus Cardenas and Cynara Velazquez, a Democratic organizer with ties to pro-medical marijuana groups, directed the group’s activities. Cardenas’ company, Innovation Media Group, received tens of thousands of dollars last year for its work on behalf of the San Diego County Democratic Party. Velazquez organized a fundraiser for Filner’s mayoral bid on behalf of the Patient Care Association in April 2012 and is hosting an Oct. 20 fundraiser for City Councilman David Alvarez’s current mayoral bid.

(Update: Alvarez released a statement saying it was incorrect to describe the event as a fundraiser. Velasquez "volunteered to bring a group of her neighbors together to learn more about my campaign. In light of today’s news, she has cancelled the event,” he said.)

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Others involved in the PAC were attorney Jessica McElfresh, who has represented medical marijuana advocates, and Juan Boyce, who was listed on disclosure forms as the committee’s principal officer. The ethics investigation determined he lives in Ensenada but little else.

All of those involved contributed to Filner’s mayoral or congressional campaigns except for Boyce, which is likely why his name was used as the committee’s public face.

None of those involved responded to a request for comment. Reached on her cell phone, Velazquez responded to a reporter’s query by saying “Sorry, I’m busy” and hanging up.

The committee spent $7,000 to disseminate a robo-call six days before the November 2012 election in which they asked the recipient if they were going to vote for DeMaio or Filner. If they answered Filner, the call ended. If they chose DeMaio, a series of questions were posed about DeMaio. They included: “If you knew Carl DeMaio was the first openly gay man to be elected to our San Diego Council, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for Carl DeMaio, or does this fact make no difference?”

The group also spent $5,000 to print and distribute campaign literature that included a photo of DeMaio hugging another man and another of him standing next to what appears to be a drag queen. Its tag line: “We conservatives know that liberty means that someone can pick a partner of their choice. We commend Carl on his conservative policies and exercising his liberties.”